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T O P I C R E V I E W

Hart Sastrowardoyo

Though there's still two weeks left in the year, I obtained what I believe to be my last in-person autograph today (Dec. 12) of 2013. I'll share how my year has been, but how has yours? Get everything (and everyone) you wanted? Missed opportunities? What was the one big autograph you got or event you attended?

Shuttle Endeavour

John Young never responded.

But overall, for my first year of collecting autographs, I got many responses.

Hart Sastrowardoyo

That's great on the many responses! Young is probably a no-signer at this point. What were some of your responses?

Got Bagian today on my "Space Shuttle: 20 Years" book, and we also talked briefly about the STS-61I flight to which he was assigned (and which I had the Flight Data File for).

Less than last year (which I was aided by the Discovery transfer event at Udvar-Hazy), but still averages out to more than the "Astronaut of the Month" goal I set.

To my "Space Tourist's Handbook" I added Barrett, Tito and Yi.

In-person meetings that didn't fit either of the above: Owen Garriott (and his son Richard, again), Rubins and Aunon.

Included in the above are hard signers such as Melroy and Bowersox (although O’Connor still said no, but was pleasant enough and introduced me to him.)

Also a few through the mail.

Other reflections of 2013: Missed out on Bowen two years ago, and I got his autograph this year. Missed out on a signature from Wetherbee years ago, and crossed off his name off my bucket list – exactly seven years to the day! Got difficult to find (at least for me) Hoshide (and stayed through one interesting lecture *ahem*), but couldn't stay for Suni Williams. Completed my STS-134 crew pic with Feustel.

Minor disappointments: Couldn't go to the Atlantis unveiling at KSC or to Ford and Drew at NASA HQ or Marshburn at the Newseum or to Barratt at Harvard Medical or to the STS-61 anniversary symposium at MIT or to Lu and Noguchi at the Museum of Natural History (as well as Prunariu). Missed out on Mattingly at NASM and found out late about Wolf at Drexel and Kimbrough at Cradle of Aviation. Had I known I could have possibly asked to have my book signed by Holder (MSE) at a similar event as McMonagle and Payton. Due to the government shutdown, couldn't get Sullivan and due to the post office (don't ask), missed out on Bill Thornton. Miles O’Brien jetted out after his interview with Hadfield. Also won't be able to see Stott tomorrow.

But I already have a few for 2014 planned, and am just about sure to see KSC again...

Shuttle Endeavour

Nice collection! I had the same problem with the Atlantis unveiling; I wasn't able to get on the flight. I got a very quick response from Chris Hadfield, and met a bunch of astronauts and Neil deGrasse Tyson at the American Museum of Natural History. The Astronaut Autograph and Memorabilia Show was great this year and it was fun meeting with Greg Johnson and Fred Haise, along with other astronauts.

I got great responses from Chris Cassidy through the mail, Hoot Gibson, Robert Crippen, and others. I also had a great time meeting Mark Kelly in a bookstore in New Jersey, when I asked about the RTLS abort procedures.

Still waiting for Doug Hurley, John Glenn, and the new Astronaut Class though.

cycleroadie

Unfortunately, you may never see one from Hurley, he does not do mail signing usually. If you catch him in person somewhere, you might have some luck.

Robert Pearlman

2013 marked the first full year since I retired my "Who's Who in Space" book and resigned from (traditional) autograph collecting.

That said, it also marked the start of an autograph-related art project.

I'm not yet ready to share the scope of the entire project publicly, but I can share it involves index cards individually signed by every person to fly on the space shuttle. In 2013, I was able to gather 68 out of the 355 in total that will be needed.

There's no timeline or deadline yet for this but I'm hoping in 2014 to bring the total up to the halfway point, or 110 more signed cards...